IS THERE ALOT OF DIFFERENCE IN SHAFT DRIVE BUGGIES VS. CHAIN DRIVE? LOOKING TO DO SOME TRAIL RIDING MOSTLY, I LIVE IN KY, SO MOST OF MY RIDING IS TRAIL, NOT MUCH FLAT GROUND HERE.

I am wondering the same thing . Can anyone give some imput on rear end types?

The thing that is nice about chain drive is you can regear the machine by changing the sproket ratios. You at least have the option. They are both fairly reliable drive systems.


Glade

Hi, I am from Ky. as well and I understand about the lack of flat ground around here. I agree with Doonrunr about reliability, but chain drives are easier to work on. If you buy a chain drive buggy make sure you get a 39 tooth gear on the axle or your riding in Ky. will be limited. Many of the buggies have a 31 tooth gear, although if your are mechanically inclinded you can change it yourself. You can also improve climbing ability of shaft drive buggies as well, but it will involve modifing the CVT transmission (which you can also do with chain driven buggies). While it doesn't actually give you a lower gear ratio it does allow your engine to stay in its power band. Also a difference is most, not all, chain driven buggies I have seen are 150cc and a swing arm suspension. This suspension is O.K. but not as smooth as the independent suspensions that shaft drive buggies have.

I am not againt drive shaft buggies, but there is less that can go wrong with a chain drive.

I never had to make that decission. In 2004 I think chain drive was it...

Good mulling!

my buggy is shaft drive, so i can't really answer about chain drives, but i guess there are differences. i wanted a shaft drive cause i thought that it would be slightly more reliable than a chain drive.

but you can't go wrong with either one

get both!!!

Hi,
I'm new here and am looking to buy a new buggy and this is one of the topics that I'm debating on when trying to decide what type of drive to get. I believe chain drive is what I'm leaning more toward because of the versatility in re-gearing, but I also want something that will provide a smoother ride over rough terrain. Do the shaft drives provide a better suspension for this and if so, how big of a difference does it make compared to the suspensions on a solid axle chain drive?
I really like the Kinroad buggies and I know they offer both chain and shaft drives, I'm just having a tough time trying to decide which one.

i've never ridden in a chain drive buggy, so i really can't answer the difference, but the ride on in my buggy (shaft drive) is very good, and the rear is an independent suspension, i'm not sure if independent rear suspension is an option with chain drives, is it guys?

Thanks for the reply! That's a really nice buggy you have by the way! Does it climb pretty good?